SWS (Severe Weather Sensors) recommended to click on pictures

To discover the Quick Time Player (download free) sequence : "ICE SCULPTURES in MONT-AIGOUAL", held on 29 November 2001, click on this picture :

 

The Objectives

Following a first project conducted by FMI-SMI in 1997-1998 to review the need for meteorological measurements in icing conditions and the available sensors, EUMETNET started another SWS Programme in July 2000 to define field test procedures for sensors in icing conditions and test a number of sensors at three sites in Finland, France and Switzerland.

Specifically, the objectives of the study were :

to test ice free gauges at the suitable test sites of the Finnish Meteorological Institute, Meteo-France and the Swiss Meteorological Institute, to produce qualitative and quantitative information on errors, amount of needed heat, operating conditions for sensors, to test sensors for icing detection, to define a procedure for sensor certification,

A workshop on icing was organised as part of the work. The work was conducted in liaison with the WMO.

The deliverables

Documented intercomparison on ice free sensors tested at the three sites Tool to estimate the needed heating power for sensors operated under various climatic conditions Documentation of icing measurements Proposal of certification procedures for ice free sensors in the future. Publications in meteorological papers Workshop on icing of sensors (June 2001) Final report A proposal to WMO/CIMO for needed activities.

Organisation

The Responsible Member is the Finnish Meteorological Institute .

The Programme Manager was Mr Bengt Tammelin. Meteo-France and the Swiss Meteorological Institute were co-contractors.

The winter 2000-2001 was used mainly to establish and coordinate the test sites and test procedures (the sites are Luosto, Mont Aigoual and Mont Säntis). Instruments were collected from NMSs and manufacturers and tested during the winter 2001-2002.

The final report was published in summer 2002.

Updated 18 June 2008